Police receive reports of cold callers going door to door in Heacham, Dersingham and North and South Wootton pretending to sell goods after being released from prison

Police have received several reports of residents receiving cold calls from people claiming to have been released from prison.

Officers have described them as potential “Nottingham knockers” - cold callers trying to sell goods - who have been reported around Heacham, Dersingham and the Woottons.

Police received reports yesterday afternoon of men going door to door trying to sell various items out of a bag, claiming they have recently been released from prison and are trying to make some money.

It is a common technique used by criminals, and residents will sometimes be met with aggression from the sellers when refusing to buy anything.

Police have advised residents to make sure their houses are secure before answering any doors and consider speaking to somebody you don’t know through a locked door if possible.

Officers said: “We would always advise you not to agree to buy goods from, or have work done, by anyone who calls unannounced or approaches you in the street. Sometimes such traders are operating fraudulently, and will target vulnerable residents.”

If you ever feel immediately threatened by a cold-caller, call 999.

Anyone with information about suspected rogue traders or suspicious cold callers can report this on Norfolk Police’s website.

Alternatively call us on 101, in a non-emergency, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.